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Draenei Discussion
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Post by
Braevia
It seems like we know so little about them, lore-wise. We can assume things about Dwarves and Elves, who have existed in other settings, plus we learn so much about Dwarves and Elves from various quests and NPCs. No so for the Draenei, however. I'm hoping to start a discussion where we can gather our collective knowledge about Draenei, then speculate and extrapolate our way into a more complete picture of them as a people.
So far, what I know about the Draenei:
They are good friends with the Naaru; this connection allows them to wield the light for healing purposes efffortlessly (i.e. without using mana).
They have hooves, horns, and tails. This leads me to believe that their ancestors must have lived in mountainous areas, where their hard hooves would be suitable for the rocky ground, and the tails would lend them balance. The horns, mostly decorative now, were probably used for defense, or in mating displays (bucking heads to impress females, etc.) This is reinforced by the fact that the horns of males are part of a bony head ridge (suitable for bucking), while female horns grow from the sides, and seem designed mostly for visual display.
They have tentacles, which are likely vestigial from their evolution from some type of sea creature. The problem with this theory is that humans also have seaborne ancestors, and we do not retain any aquatic physiology. Theoretically this should have been bred out of the Draenei when their ancestors moved to land, especially given that their race is much, much older than humans. If they were still being used, it is possible that their home planet has mountains with large, fishable lakes. Draenei living in those mountains could go diving for fish and use those tentacles for hunting. In time, as they began using tools for fishing, the tentacles atrophied and became the decorative appendages that they are today.
In the draenei starting area, you learn to cook elk early on, but that is from a human cook. I would like to theorize that the draenei native diet is likely more fish based, both because you meet a draenei fisherwoman immediately after leaving the crash site (I mean really, that's the first thing she does? Set up and start fishing?) and because it fits with my tentacle theory above.
They have a rather strict theocracy, with fairly harsh standards for purity. They basically abandoned the Broken, and while they have welcomed some Broken shamans into their society, those guys seem rather marginalized and looked down upon. It seems doubtful that the Broken shamans present on the Exodar would be there without the influence of Prophet Velen.
In terms of religion, their strong association with the Light, as personified in actual sentient beings (the naaru), and the fact that many Draenei names are reminiscent of Persian names, leads me to speculate that they are likely similar to Zoroastrians, a Persian religion who will fight in an army of light against the God of Darkness in an epic battle for the universe, as predicted by the prophet Zoroaster.
Like most long-lived beings, they likely have low birth rates. This explains a lot about how devastating the Orc attacks were on their population.
They are experts in jewelcrafting, and presumably mining and stonecutting as well. This matches nicely with my theory about their homeworld being mountainous.
Post by
Adamsm
Heh
, there was this topic you could have necro'ed Braevia.
Post by
Braevia
Forum necromancy is a dark art. Plus, this thread is more about their physiology and culture, rather than specifically their history. I think there is a lot of missing lore, so this is a place for us to try and fill in the cracks.
What do they drink?
Are they party people?
How prehensile are those tails?
My guess, incidentally, is that with a fish-oriented diet they would favor white wines (possibly a rose, such as white zinfandel). They could easily have cultivated grapes on Draenor, though I imagine their homeworld, being so rocky and mountainous might have had some trouble with that. Japan is similarly mountainous, with a lot of fish being eaten traditionally, so we could look there for similar beverages. That leaves us with rice wine (often served hot), perhaps some plum wine, and an exuberant acceptance of beer. I can definitely picture Draenei karaoke bars.
Frankly, I think the Draenei would get along better with Dwarves (beer, mining, crafting) than Night Elves (blue/purple skin, tall, like animals)
Post by
Mazaniam
First of all, Well Bloody Done. Very Detailed.
Secondly, my thoughts.
The OP suggested they may have lived in mountainous areas. I support this theory by a multiple points. (If that makes sense grammatically.)
Draenei Architecture is greatly rock-based, with crystals and stone buildings. Most people (namely Adamsm) claim that the Crystal is because of the Naaru relation. I have widely accepted this, yet you're theory makes even more sense!
In the Exodar, there are NPCs mining. The NPCs actually have aged faces, so we are led to believe that these are original Eredar. They wouldn't be working unless they could
really
mine.
That's my opinion anyway.
Post by
Adamsm
I don't think they have a 'fish' based diet; a Draenei hunting party saved young Durotan and Orgrim after all, and there are references in Rise of the Horde that the Draenei hunt the talbuks and clefthoofs just like the orcs(something Durotan is thinking about while eating in the Draenei city). And if they did, that would only be the draenei like Velen who remembered live on Argus, everyone else who were born on the crystal ships or Draenor would have a different food then the originals.
As for the miners in the Exodar; they are expanding the city in the mountain.
They have a rather strict theocracy, with fairly harsh standards for purity. They basically abandoned the Broken, and while they have welcomed some Broken shamans into their society, those guys seem rather marginalized and looked down upon. It seems doubtful that the Broken shamans present on the Exodar would be there without the influence of Prophet Velen.Aye... Unbroken confirms that; Velen traveled to Telredor specifically because he knew that Nobundo was going to be there, to speak with him and learn about this new ideal for the Draenei people. Over all though, it seems more like fear when it comes to the Broken; it's like how we humans feel when see a deformity among our kind; we know deep down that the person who is born blind or with stunted limbs can't 'pass' the deformity onto us... but the fear is still there.
Honestly though, the Draenei seem to have a more Russian or Gypsy lifestyle instead of the Japanese; there is already a race in Azeroth in who are based on the asian nations heh, the Pandarens.
Post by
Skreeran
I would actually guess that the tentacles are decorative in nature, and their continued existance is due to sexual preference. In ancient time, tentacles might have had a use in hunting, and thus females of the draenei ancestors would have selected mates with large tentacles, as we see in draenei males today.
Conversely, long tentacles in females would be seen as a masculine trait, and thus the small tentacles in females.
As an amateur evolutionary biologist, I approve of this thread!
Post by
Braevia
Certainly their diet has expanded since coming to Draenor, and then Azeroth; I think they they would retain a cultural preference for fish though (again, first thing that woman does after crash landing...set up a fishing spot). I don't think they resemble Japan culturally, though; I was merely using Japan as a culinary example, since the environment is similar.
Even if we go with Russia, we're still looking at grain alcohol with the occasional fruit wine. Their culinary possibilities expand considerably when they emigrate to Draenor which, if Nagrand is an indicator of what it looked like before the fall, was a ridiculously fertile planet.
Culturally, I stand by the Persian speculation. I've seen it suggested elsewhere, and it fits.
Another possibility is that they did their fishing *inside* of the mountains, in underground lakes. There are caves on earth full of sea creatures that have been trapped inside of these caves for thousands of years, and have evolved to survive there. The Draenei could be descended from a similar creature, who eventually evolved into a humanoid, dug its way out of the cave, and eventually met Sargeras. The cave theory would explain their pale, pupilless eyes, which are common in creatures adapted to live in darkness. It would mean, however, that their natural eyesight aboveground would be quite poor compared to other creatures.
Technically, this should be true for Night Elves as well (who, when you think about it, are basically a "good" variation on drow). The game has no reason to model this, but it's not hard to imagine Draenei and Night Elves wearing eyeglasses in everyday life.
Post by
Braevia
I would actually guess that the tentacles are decorative in nature, and their continued existance is due to sexual preference. In ancient time, tentacles might have had a use in hunting, and thus females of the draenei ancestors would have selected mates with large tentacles, as we see in draenei males today.
Conversely, long tentacles in females would be seen as a masculine trait, and thus the small tentacles in females.
As an amateur evolutionary biologist, I approve of this thread!
Agreed, I was trying to speculate as to how the tentacles began. At this point, I'm solidifying my theory as "evolved from aquatic mammals living in underground lakes".
One interesting point is that the females are, in general, smoother while the males have ridges on their heads and their tails. The smoother profile would be an advantage in swimming...perhaps in ancient Draenei culture females were responsible for aquatic hunting, while males protected their settlements? Kind of an interesting flip on human gender roles.
Post by
Adamsm
The biggest problem with the idea of them being aquatic based evolution wise? The hooves; hooved animals don't swim well. If you've ever seen a cow or a horse in the water, they are barely able to keep their heads above the water; the long thin legs and hooves don't allow for much control or speed while in the water.
Post by
Skreeran
It's possible. It's also possible that the smoother nature of the females is also due to sexual selection. After all, one must assume that the Draenei had a very similar evolutionary path to other humanoids, simply because of the same characteristics between them. Human males tend to prefer smooth, slender females to gruff, gnarled looking ones. Because of the female draenei's similar appearance (hourglass figure, prominent breasts, etc.), one can assume that draenei males prefer the same thing.
I agree that they are most likely descended from some form of sea creature. I'm not sure if they are originally cave based, but this is merely due to my own gut feeling. It seems like if they were overly sensitive to Light, they wouldn't have grown so fond of the Naaru. After all, for a sightless or near sightless organism would most likely not generate the same attribution of Light with good as humans have done. It seems like if they were originally cave based, light would be mistrusted and feared, or at the very least not cared for very much.
Of course, it's also possible that they have evolved their sight back since, to near human levels, and have since come to connect light and good, as we have.
Edit: DaddyFlex... Avatar came out after Warcraft 3, which was where we first saw the Eredar.
Edit: Adams: I stick to Braevia's theory that they moved form the water to the mountains, with the tentacles changing roles from a tool for hunting to a display of virility.
Post by
Braevia
The biggest problem with the idea of them being aquatic based evolution wise? The hooves; hooved animals don't swim well. If you've ever seen a cow or a horse in the water, they are barely able to keep their heads above the water; the long thin legs and hooves don't allow for much control or speed while in the water.
Presumably the hooves evolved after they left the caves? It would be more common for them to develop feet, but bear in mind that all land-based life on earth began from something in the ocean, so clearly it's possible. They never lost the tentacles either because they kept using them for a while (until they perfected fishing rods and nets), or (more likely) due to sexual preference.
Their tails were probably flat, originally, and used to steer in the water. As they evolved into land creatures, those tails became rounded and shorter.
It's also worth mentioning that our only references for hooved animals in the water are all quadrupeds with weak tails. Draenei have two hands to propel them in the water (check their swimming animation, they're working their arms more than anything) and muscular balance tails to possibly help with their underwater maneuverability.
Incidentally, an xpack that lets us visit Argus would be friggin' awesome.
Post by
Braevia
I wasn't aware of it, but the
Wowwiki page on Argus
does confirm that it is believed to be quite mountainous.
Post by
Skreeran
Indeed, Rise of the Horde mentioned them climbing a huge mountain when they were rescued by the Naaru. From what I remember, it actually mentioned their hooves helping them climb.
Post by
Adamsm
Aye, or at least the main temple where they fled was on a mountain heh.
Post by
Skreeran
Incidentally, I love science, especially when I'm applying it to places it shouldn't be. I remember when I was in Integrated Physics and Chemistry, and I did an in-depth study on the atomic structure of Phazon from Metroid Prime.
Post by
347401
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Patty
Their blood is blue, so maybe they do not use Oxygen (if it exists in WoW) to keep their cells healthy.
Post by
347401
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Skreeran
Cobalt... That makes sense...
I'm not good enough at cellular biology to determine what that would mean for their evolution or homeworld, but I imagine that other animals from Argus would also have blue blood in that case.
Post by
Morec0
Well done Braevia, brilliantly well done.
I have to agree with the idea that they probably don't breath oxygen, in fact I saw what an alternitive to it might be somehwere. I just can't remember.
And if it hasn't been mentioned; at the moment their structures are indeed rock and crystal-based, this may be from Naruu influence, but it might also give credibililty to your idea that they lived in the mountains - where there would have been mostly rock.
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